Tired of Toxic! Safely Protect Your Family Using Nature’s Strongest Ingredients

Pests aren’t just a nuisance. They’re a persistent, often invisible threat that affects every corner of modern life, from homes and gardens to schools, hospitals, and workplaces. Rodents, insects, and other pests disrupt comfort, compromise safety, and pose serious health risks. Just as troubling as the pests themselves are the methods traditionally used to control them. Many pest control products are effective. However, many contain harsh chemicals that present dangers to human health, animal safety, and the environment. It’s a double-edged sword: eliminate the pests, but at what cost?

These solutions are critical. Pests remain a health concern. In 2020, mosquitoes caused over 600,000 deaths through malaria alone. Rodents, too, are responsible for transmitting diseases such as hantavirus, salmonella, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever through their urine, droppings, and saliva, while contaminating human and pet food. Their presence can also trigger allergic reactions, particularly in children.

Moreover, rodents’ constant gnawing can cause structural damage to wood, drywall, insulation, and even plastic plumbing and metal, leading to expensive repairs. More alarmingly, they’re estimated to be responsible for 20% to 25% of US house fires and billions in property damage, with unknown causes due to their tendency to chew through electrical wires, such as appliances, computer technology, vehicle wires, and HVAC systems. Overall, rodents represent a serious threat to your family’s health, and also to the most valuable possessions you own.

Pest seasonality exacerbates the issue. Mosquitoes thrive in warm months and areas with standing water, such as after floods or heavy rains. Meanwhile, colder months see a rise in rodent and spider activity as these pests seek shelter and protection that the indoors provides. Each season brings its wave of intrusions, making pest control a year-round concern.

For decades, chemical pesticides have been the go-to solution. Yet, the risks tied to these methods are now impossible to ignore. Estimates show that unintentional pesticide poisoning worldwide is up from 25 million in 1990 to 385 million in 2020. In fact, pesticides are responsible for 50% of the two million poisonings in children under six, with more than 70,000 calls of emergency room visits due to exposure.

Pets are also frequently affected. Over 400,000 pets are poisoned annually — that’s over 1,000 a day — with household products, such as common pest control items, being one of the causes.

Part of the problem lies in awareness. Many consumers don’t realize that the products they bring into their homes, whether pest sprays, scented candles, or cleaning supplies, can compromise indoor air quality and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to health problems. This instance highlights the importance of pest control, which prioritizes human and ecological health.

EarthKind has a mission to create awareness and safer choices. They are doing this by using nature’s strongest ingredients as an alternative to toxic pest control options. EarthKind develops safe and sustainable solutions, dispelling the myth that natural products don’t work. EarthKind intends to prove that pest control doesn’t need to come at the expense of human or environmental health.

Founded by Kari Warberg Block, EarthKind has found a proven way to work with nature, not against it. Growing up on a North Dakota farm, she saw how conventional pest control methods harm more than just the pests. “I watched neighbors struggle year after year with chemical exposure, yet still mice chewed through everything,” she shares. “Then I noticed that rodents avoided balsam fir trees. They didn’t chew the bark. Something was making them stay away.”

Block realized the possibility of disrupting a pest’s highly dependent sense of smell with specific botanical compounds. She then combined that insight and her background in the fragrance industry to unlock nature’s secrets. The results of her research set the foundation for EarthKind’s offerings of plant-based pest repellents.

EarthKind’s flagship product, Fresh Cab, incorporates balsam fir oil to drive rodents away without traps or toxins. The product line targets other household pests like ants, mosquitoes, spiders, moths, and cockroaches using essential oils and plant fibers that alter pest behavior. EarthKind’s solutions make indoor environments inhospitable for pests, with the company’s focus on preventative and proactive protection.

Many pest control products are reactive. They work only after pests are already present. EarthKind changes that narrative by focusing on prevention. For example, Stay Away Mosquitoes is effective against Mosquitoes & Ticks while being gentle enough for pregnant women and small children. The products focus on prevention, by repelling pests. This approach eliminates the need to clean up dead rodents or traps, reducing contact with the very pathogens people seek to avoid.

Sustainability is also significant to EarthKind. Its products are made in the USA with ingredients sourced from regenerative farms, supporting local agriculture and reducing emissions. EarthKind’s products leave no toxic residue or disposable plastics behind, unlike conventional solutions like rodenticides or traps. In addition, its pouches are made with biodegradable materials like recycled corn cob, which can be composted after use.

EarthKind further stands out for its commitment to education. “We invest in awareness campaigns, community outreach, and transparent labeling because our goal is to change mindsets and empower consumers to make informed decisions for their health and the planet’s future,” Block states.

EarthKind’s commitment is a shift toward holistic, systems-based thinking. Rather than attempting to dominate nature, the company works in harmony with it. Block remarks: “Pest problems aren’t going away, they’re actually increasing, and the way we deal with them can and must change.” For all consumers, EarthKind aims to prove that safety, sustainability, and effectiveness aren’t mutually exclusive.